I am from a place where

 the ocean creeps in between the land

 The water breathes

 up and down the water rises and falls

 like a beast’s stomach

I am from humans in search of a thrill

 riding the beast on colorful rented canoes 

Besides the usual humans gliding over the water

 an occasional sea mammal 

would dare to enter the mouth of the beast

 One such mammal was a wandering seal,

 Curious, daring, and adventurous

 That was the last breath that daring explorer

 took before forever disappearing

 in the belly of the beast

I am from a family 

who believes that everyone is equal,

 that humans should not be separated by their appearance,

 belief, or where they’re from

I have a  hope that humans would get along

 for we are the only,and lonely, type of human species on earth

I dream of a place where humans would not abuse their intelligence

 and use it against one another, 

or against a certain species

I am from a place where steaming filipino food fills the air

as your mouth waters, waiting for the tasty morsel about to be eaten

A place where ingredients find no limit

 to what you can create

Where a brownie lay breathing on the counter, 

too disgusting to even be digested

I am from store bought meals

 to home cooked dinners

all of which have something related to asian cuisine

No meal is the same without rice 

as the white steaming grains conquers 90% of your plate

As my friends and I pretend that we are wild animals of nature, 

Lifting a singular spaghetto into our mouths 

Sauce dripping from the corner of our mouths

I am from a place in which birthdays

 are held on the second floor of my apartment building, 

where friends hang out in the elevators as we get pulled up and down the floors

 in a never ending ride 

I am from a place where friends and family are abundant 

as the leaves on a flourishing tree

with endless traveling to the hot 

humid tropics and cold snowy terrain where many of my relatives spend their days 

Where celebrations of all kinds take place amongst my ever growing family

This is where I am from.